Americans Elect spokeswoman Ileana Wachtel said Friday that the U.S. Senate needs "independent-minded leaders" like King. The first of two ads praises King's political independence. The narrator says, "Here in Maine, people aren't looking for Democratic jobs or Republican jobs. We just need jobs."

Also in the race are Republican Charlie Summers, Democrat Cynthia Dill and three additional independents: Steve Woods, Danny Dalton and Andrew Ian Dodge.